Latest news with #Schafer
The Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Chile's government to expropriate land tied to Pinochet-era torture
VILLA BAVIERA (Reuters) -Chile plans to expropriate a settlement founded by a German cult leader where torture took place during former dictator Augusto Pinochet's military regime as the government takes another step to shine a light on a dark period of the past. The enclave, originally called Colonia Dignidad and renamed Villa Baviera, was founded in 1961 by Paul Schafer, a former Nazi medic turned evangelical preacher who kept the isolated community under tight control and was later jailed for sexually abusing children. During Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship, Colonia Dignidad also bore witness to another kind of abuse: the torture of political prisoners by military forces in a secret prison at the site. Schafer collaborated with Pinochet's secret police and in exchange was shielded for years from prosecution for his own crimes. The dictatorship viewed the secretive, fortified and remote community as an ideal site to detain and torture dissidents away from public view. The government now wants to turn the 290-acre (117-hectare) community into a memorial, Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo said at an event this month. The aim is to make it "a place that allows all Chileans to enter freely to learn about what happened there," Gajardo said. "Nothing justifies violating human rights as they were violated during the military dictatorship." Schafer died in prison in 2010. Several hundred families once lived at the settlement about 350 kilometers (217 mi) south of Santiago. Today the population numbers closer to 100, many of whom are descendants of the original German settlers. Businesses at Villa Baviera, or Bavarian Village, have tried in recent years to attract visitors to the area's picturesque green fields and views of snow-capped mountains. In the expropriation, property owners will be compensated under terms still to be determined by experts, Gajardo said. The government aims to complete the expropriation before President Gabriel Boric leaves office in March. The justice minister said the community consists of about 90 land parcels but did not specify the number of businesses or residents. PAINFUL PAST Dozens of physically and mentally traumatizedmembers of Colonia Dignidad eventuallyrelocatedto Germany, and the site's history drew international attention in the 2015 film "Colonia." Plans for the expropriation underscore the challenges for governments in coming to terms with complicated histories in places that have overlapping layers of rights abuses. Chile's National Institute of Human Rights in a recent report said those who were tortured by Pinochet's forces as well as the people who suffered under Schaefer's control were equally victims of Colonia Dignidad. Jose Patricio Schmidt, who grew up in Colonia Dignidad and still lives there, said residents had existed in a bubble, unaware of the dictatorship's abuses. "Schaefer would gather us together to read the Bible in a place about a kilometer from where people were tortured, and we knew nothing," he said in an interview at a memorial site in the community that pays tribute to the torture victims. Tens of thousands of people were arrested and tortured throughout Chile during Pinochet's rule, and 1,469 people were victims of forced disappearance. Some have criticized the government's move to take away property from current Villa Baviera community members, especially those who were themselves victims of abuse. Juergen Szurgeleis in an interview said he tried as a boy to escape forced labor and abuse at Colonia Dignidad. "Is it my fault for being born here?" he said. "And now they want to take away my land and leave me in the street?" Yet a former political prisoner at Colonia Dignidad, Luis Jaque, said he struggles to see how the community, which includes a German restaurant and a hotel catering to tourists, can carry on without recognizing the horrors of the past. "It's not reconcilable, at least not for me," he said. (Reporting by Nicolás Cortés in Villa Baviera and Santiago; Writing by Leila Miller and Fabián Cambero; Editing by Daina Beth Solomon and Cynthia Osterman)
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Chile's government to expropriate land tied to Pinochet-era torture
Find out what's new on ST website and app. VILLA BAVIERA - Chile plans to expropriate a settlement founded by a German cult leader where torture took place during former dictator Augusto Pinochet's military regime as the government takes another step to shine a light on a dark period of the past. The enclave, originally called Colonia Dignidad and renamed Villa Baviera, was founded in 1961 by Paul Schafer, a former Nazi medic turned evangelical preacher who kept the isolated community under tight control and was later jailed for sexually abusing children. During Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship, Colonia Dignidad also bore witness to another kind of abuse: the torture of political prisoners by military forces in a secret prison at the site. Schafer collaborated with Pinochet's secret police and in exchange was shielded for years from prosecution for his own crimes. The dictatorship viewed the secretive, fortified and remote community as an ideal site to detain and torture dissidents away from public view. The government now wants to turn the 290-acre (117-hectare) community into a memorial, Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo said at an event this month. The aim is to make it "a place that allows all Chileans to enter freely to learn about what happened there," Gajardo said. "Nothing justifies violating human rights as they were violated during the military dictatorship." Schafer died in prison in 2010. Several hundred families once lived at the settlement about 350 kilometers (217 mi) south of Santiago. Today the population numbers closer to 100, many of whom are descendants of the original German settlers. Businesses at Villa Baviera, or Bavarian Village, have tried in recent years to attract visitors to the area's picturesque green fields and views of snow-capped mountains. In the expropriation, property owners will be compensated under terms still to be determined by experts, Gajardo said. The government aims to complete the expropriation before President Gabriel Boric leaves office in March. The justice minister said the community consists of about 90 land parcels but did not specify the number of businesses or residents. PAINFUL PAST Dozens of physically and mentally traumatized members of Colonia Dignidad eventually relocated to Germany, and the site's history drew international attention in the 2015 film "Colonia." Plans for the expropriation underscore the challenges for governments in coming to terms with complicated histories in places that have overlapping layers of rights abuses. Chile's National Institute of Human Rights in a recent report said those who were tortured by Pinochet's forces as well as the people who suffered under Schaefer's control were equally victims of Colonia Dignidad. Jose Patricio Schmidt, who grew up in Colonia Dignidad and still lives there, said residents had existed in a bubble, unaware of the dictatorship's abuses. "Schaefer would gather us together to read the Bible in a place about a kilometer from where people were tortured, and we knew nothing," he said in an interview at a memorial site in the community that pays tribute to the torture victims. Tens of thousands of people were arrested and tortured throughout Chile during Pinochet's rule, and 1,469 people were victims of forced disappearance. Some have criticized the government's move to take away property from current Villa Baviera community members, especially those who were themselves victims of abuse. Juergen Szurgeleis in an interview said he tried as a boy to escape forced labor and abuse at Colonia Dignidad. "Is it my fault for being born here?" he said. "And now they want to take away my land and leave me in the street?" Yet a former political prisoner at Colonia Dignidad, Luis Jaque, said he struggles to see how the community, which includes a German restaurant and a hotel catering to tourists, can carry on without recognizing the horrors of the past. "It's not reconcilable, at least not for me," he said. REUTERS
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Cast revealed for ‘Legend of Zelda' live-action movie; Hunter Schafer not casted as Zelda
Nintendo and Sony have officially announced the casting for the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, set to release in 2027. The announcement, made by Shigeru Miyamoto on Nintendo's social media platforms, revealed that Bo Bragason will portray Princess Zelda, while Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will take on the role of Link. Bragason, a British actress, is known for her performances in BBC One's Three Girls and Disney+'s Renegade Nell. She also starred in The Radleys (2024), a vampire comedy film. Ainsworth, who is also English, has appeared in The Haunting of Bly Manor and voiced Pinocchio in Robert Zemeckis' 2022 live-action adaptation of Pinocchio. His other credits include the Netflix series The Sandman and Son of a Critch. This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen. (1/2) — 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025 The movie, directed by Wes Ball, best known for The Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is being produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad. The film's release was recently delayed from March to May 7, 2027, for production reasons. With the success of Super Mario Bros. Movie generating high expectations, The Legend of Zelda is seen as another key project for Nintendo and Sony in their push for more video game adaptations. While the casting announcement has generated excitement, it also reignited conversations about Hunter Schafer's fans' campaign for her to play Princess Zelda. Schafer, known for her role in Euphoria and the upcoming The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, was widely considered a fan-favorite choice for Zelda. Fans on social media rallied behind her, with viral campaigns advocating for Schafer's ethereal presence to match Zelda's iconic image. hunter schafer get in that audition room now!!!!! — tATE mcrae (@supraboyj) March 28, 2025 However, despite the buzz surrounding her potential casting, Schafer did not land the role. In an interview with Variety, she expressed her enthusiasm for the possibility, saying she would love to take on the role. Yet, the casting decision ultimately went in a different direction, leaving fans disappointed, though hopeful for future projects.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Legend of Zelda' movie finds its live-action Princess Zelda and Link
The Legend of Zelda live-action movie has found its two lead stars. And despite what the internet might have you believe, Euphoria's Hunter Schafer isn't one of them. Shigeru Miyamoto, the game designer, producer, and game director at Nintendo, announced over social media Wednesday that young actors Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will play the roles of Princess Zelda and Link, respectively. "This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san," Miyamoto said in a statement. "I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen." The official Nintendo account also shared photos of the pair in what look to be the first look at them in costume. British actress Bragason is a relative newcomer, having appeared in episodes of The Jetty and Renegade Nell. She was last seen in King and Conqueror, about William of Normandy and Harold of Wessex. Ainsworth, however, is more known to international audiences. He played a young Miles Wingrave in Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House follow-up on Netflix, The Haunting of Bly Manor. He also had a role on Netflix's The Sandman early in season 1, and he starred as the voice of Pinocchio in Disney's live-action/CG hybrid movie adaptation. This casting may come as a surprise if you keep track of internet rumors, but such is the way of our online reality. Fans seemed to dream-cast Schafer in the role of Zelda, after which the actress was asked about it on a 2023 red carpet by Entertainment Tonight."I mean, yeah! Obviously. That would be so cool," Schafer said of the suggestion. Online "scoopers" then claimed Schafer was being considered for the Zelda role, though these reports remained unconfirmed. And now here we are. Sony Pictures and Nintendo shifted the release date for The Legend of Zelda live-action movie a few times, and it's now currently scheduled for theaters on May 7, 2027. Wes Ball, who did 2024's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, will direct. He previously described his vision to Entertainment Weekly, calling it "this awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn't like Lord of the Rings, it's its own thing. I've always said, I would love to see a live-action Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Washington Capitals stun NHL Draft with bold trade for 6'4" German winger Maxim Schafer
Image via Instagram/schafer_maxim71 The Washington Capitals took a calculated swing on Saturday at the NHL Draft in Las Vegas, moving down in the third round to grab a big-bodied German winger they hope can grow into an NHL-caliber forward. Maxim Schafer, just 18 years old, was their target. The Caps sent Ottawa their No. 93 pick and added a 2027 seventh-rounder in the deal, then used their new spot to grab Schafer—a move that says as much about their draft strategy as it does about the player himself. Washington Capitals trade down in NHL Draft to grab 6'4" German forward Maxim Schafer Maxim Schafer's numbers in Germany's top league don't jump off the page: three points in 31 games for Eisbären Berlin last season. But it's not easy for teenagers to break into pro lineups there at all. What the Capitals liked was the experience against older competition and how he produced when given the chance at the junior level—35 points in 15 games for Berlin's U20 squad. 'He's a big kid who's played meaningful minutes in a men's league already,' one Capitals scout said Saturday in Vegas. 'You watch him with his own age group and you see a completely different player, really confident with the puck.' Internationally, Schafer wore an 'A' for Germany at the Under-18 Worlds and scored three goals in five games. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ready to Live in 3 & 4 BHK from ₹4.65 Cr* in Sec 22 Ambience Creacions, Gurugram Learn More Undo He also got a taste of the Under-20 World Juniors, adding three points in five games while playing up an age group. That combination of leadership and versatility caught the team's eye. 'He handled the U18 captaincy well,' the scout added. 'He's the type of player who rises to the level you ask of him.' How Washington Capitals' NHL Draft plan focuses on European talent and future picks This pick is Washington's third forward and second winger of this draft class, underlining a clear plan to add size and depth up front. NHL Central Scouting had Schafer ranked 102nd among international skaters, making him a bit of a project but with clear upside. By trading back to get him—and picking up an extra late-round pick for the future—the Capitals showed they're thinking long-term. It's also their first German draft pick since Haakon Hanelt in 2021, continuing a pattern of scouting hard in Europe for skill and character. For Washington, Schafer is exactly the kind of swing you take in the middle rounds. He's big, has leadership experience, and if his scoring translates, they'll look back on this trade as one worth making. Also Read: Meredith Gaudreau's emotional NHL Draft speech honoring late husband Johnny moves fans to tears Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
